US6425476B2 - Method and a device for the formation of flat articles into groups - Google Patents

Method and a device for the formation of flat articles into groups Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US6425476B2
US6425476B2 US09/233,100 US23310099A US6425476B2 US 6425476 B2 US6425476 B2 US 6425476B2 US 23310099 A US23310099 A US 23310099A US 6425476 B2 US6425476 B2 US 6425476B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
articles
conveyor
succession
group
pockets
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/233,100
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20010001997A1 (en
Inventor
Roberto Ghiotti
Antonio Gamberini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Original Assignee
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA filed Critical Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Assigned to AZIONARIA COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE A.C.M.A. S.P.A. reassignment AZIONARIA COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE A.C.M.A. S.P.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GAMBERINI, ANTONIO, GHIOTTI, ROBERTO
Publication of US20010001997A1 publication Critical patent/US20010001997A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6425476B2 publication Critical patent/US6425476B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G33/00—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors
    • B65G33/02—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for articles
    • B65G33/06—Screw or rotary spiral conveyors for articles conveyed and guided by parallel screws
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/02—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors
    • B65G47/04—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles
    • B65G47/06—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
    • B65G47/08—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
    • B65G47/082—Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding grouping articles in rows

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for the formation of flat articles into groups.
  • the invention finds application to advantage in the food industry where there is a requirement for flat articles such as chocolates, toffees, cookies and the like to be arranged in groups; indeed reference is made in the following specification to this same art field, albeit implying no limitation in general scope.
  • the prior art embraces methods for the formation of flat articles into groups; in a first method, disclosed in UK Patent application No 2 203 412, the articles advance randomly along a horizontal conveying surface to a station where they are taken up singly onto the periphery of a vacuum wheel and directed toward a transfer station. Before entering the transfer station, the articles pass in front of a sensor serving to pilot the operation of a device by which each article in turn is detached from the wheel and added to a group, positioned on edge inside a magazine which is caused simultaneously to recede through a distance substantially identical to the thickness of the single article.
  • the group is inclined relative to a horizontal plane and guided laterally by a fixed wall which the articles engage in sliding contact. Thereafter, having accumulated a selected number of articles, the magazine is rotated in such a manner as to release the already formed group of articles into a container, which is then directed toward further operating stations.
  • the sliding contact between the articles and the fixed side wall can jeopardize the correct formation of a group of articles, for example, in the event that the articles should bind or stick as the result of sliding friction.
  • the receding movement of the magazine has the effect of jerking the articles, positioned in contact one with another, with the result that the articles themselves can suffer damage; this again dictates the need for the operating speed of the equipment to remain below a desirable higher value.
  • the operating speed is limited additionally by the brevity of the interval allowed in which to bring about the step of detaching the articles from the vacuum wheel, which is enabled by a sensor located immediately preceding the transfer station.
  • This further method of forming articles into groups presents the drawback that the articles are made to pause at the transfer station, so that the groups can be distanced along the second feed direction and the risk of contact with successive articles advancing on the conveyor thus eliminated.
  • the need to include a pause consequently occasions a certain reduction in the operating speed of the equipment.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method whereby flat articles standing on edge can be formed into groups without any of the drawbacks mentioned above.
  • the stated object is duly realized in a method according to the present invention for forming flat articles into groups, which comprises the steps of advancing a first succession of articles along a first path toward a transfer station, at a set tempo and in such a way that each article is caused to assume a predetermined position in space when occupying the transfer station, and advancing the articles through the agency of pocket type first conveyor means along a second path extending from the transfer station to a release station in a feed direction substantially normal to the position in space assumed by the articles, thereby creating a second succession of articles disposed on edge.
  • the method disclosed also comprises the step of forming a succession of distinct groups along the pocket type first conveyor means, each consisting in a plurality of articles spaced apart at a given constant pitch, of which the last article in each group is distanced from the first article of the next group in succession by a gap of length greater than the pitch length, obtainable by selectively and controllably varying the linear velocity of the pockets of the first conveyor means with the passage of each group.
  • the present invention also relates to a device for the implementation of such a method.
  • flat articles are formed into groups by a device comprising means by which to advance a first succession of articles along a first predetermined path toward a transfer station, at a set tempo and in such a manner that each article is caused to assume a predetermined position in space when occupying the transfer station, and first conveyor means affording pockets by which the articles are advanced along a second predetermined path extending from the transfer station to a release station in a feed direction substantially perpendicular to the position in space assumed by the articles, thereby creating a second succession of articles disposed on edge, wherein the linear velocity of the pockets afforded by the first conveyor means, and therefore the rate of feed at which the articles advance along the second path, can be selectively controlled in such a way as to allow the formation of a succession of distinct groups along the first conveyor means, each consisting in a plurality of articles spaced apart at a predetermined constant pitch, of which the last article in each group is distanced from the first article of the next group in succession by a gap of predetermined length greater than
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention, viewed in elevation with certain parts omitted;
  • FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in plan, with certain parts omitted.
  • 1 denotes a device, in its entirety, serving to bring about the formation of groups 2 of articles 3 appearing flat and substantially parallelepiped in shape.
  • the device 1 comprises a conveyor wheel 4 by which the articles 3 are taken up from a transfer device denoted 5 ; as discernible in FIG. 1, the articles are advanced in succession by the transfer device 5 along a relative feed direction T toward a release station 6 where they are passed to the wheel 4 .
  • the transfer device 5 which could take a variety of forms, is illustrated only in part and requires no description, being conventional in embodiment.
  • the wheel 4 is keyed to a shaft 7 located beneath the transfer device 5 and rotatable in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1, about a substantially horizontal center axis.
  • the peripheral surface of the wheel 4 affords a plurality of suction holes 8 connected in conventional manner (not illustrated) to a source of negative pressure, also conventional and not illustrated.
  • the embodiment of the suction holes 8 is such that each one can be occupied by a single article 3 and the articles thus retained on the periphery of the wheel 4 , the function of the wheel 4 is to direct a first succession 21 of articles 3 along a first predetermined path PI toward a transfer station 9 , in such a way that the single article 3 will reach the station 9 occupying a given position in space.
  • the wheel 4 operates at the transfer station 9 in conjunction with the infeed end of a first pocket conveyor 10 to be described in due course, of which the function is to direct a second succession 22 of the articles 3 , positioned on edge, along a second predetermined path P 2 extending from the transfer station 9 to a release station 11 , advancing in a feed direction 12 substantially orthogonal to the axis of wheel 4 and to the aforementioned position in space occupied by the articles 3 .
  • the first conveyor 10 comprises two feed screws 13 disposed side by side, with respective axes 13 a extending parallel to the feed direction 12 .
  • the two screws 13 are interconnected mechanically in conventional manner through one or more gear pairs (not illustrated) housed internally of a case 27 , and driven thus at identical angular velocities in opposite directions of rotation by a first motor 24 mounted to the case 27 and coupled to the gears.
  • Each feed screw 13 comprises a center shaft 14 coaxial with the respective axis 13 a , and at least one flight 15 wound helically around the relative shaft 14 to form a plurality of successive single coils extending along the shaft 14 .
  • the feed screws 13 are constructed with two starts, and therefore with two flights 15 , so that the coils advance through two helical pitch lengths with each full rotation of the shaft 14 .
  • Each two adjacent coils of the single feed screw 13 combine to form one half of a conveying pocket 28 that is proportioned to accommodate one article 3 and translatable along the feed direction 12 .
  • each article 3 is retained by its two opposite lateral extremities between the relative adjacent coils of the two feed screws 13 .
  • An intermediate portion of the article 3 rests on a conveying surface afforded by two guide rails 16 extending parallel to the feed direction 12 and occupying a position between the screws 13 , below the level of the shafts 14 .
  • a central monitoring and control unit 17 shown in FIG. 1 governs the speed of the first motor 24 , and therefore the speed of rotation of the two feed screws 13 about the respective axes 13 a.
  • the two feed screws 13 continue to be driven by the motor 24 at a first predetermined speed of rotation, synchronously with the wheel 4 , in such a way that the articles 3 will be deposited singly into the respective pockets 28 generated in succession along and between the two feed screws 13 , and caused to advance along the second path P 2 at a first predetermined feed rate.
  • the motor 24 is piloted by a signal from the control unit 17 to rotate at higher number of revolutions per minute, thereby increasing the angular velocity of the two feed screws 13 .
  • the screws 13 now run at a second predetermined speed of rotation, no longer synchronous with the wheel 4 , so that the rate at which the articles 3 advance along the second path P 2 is accelerated relative to the first feed rate. In this way, one or more of the pockets 28 generated at the transfer station 9 will advance beyond the station before the next article 3 is released to the conveyor 10 , and therefore remain empty.
  • the groups 2 are formed directly on the conveyor 10 as and when the number of articles 3 accumulated is equivalent to one group 2 , by causing the two feed screws 13 to rotate about their respective axes 13 a at a higher speed, thereby accelerating the rate of feed and separating each group 2 from that next in succession by creating a gap of predetermined length denoted S in the drawings. More precisely, the higher speed of rotation of the feed screws 13 is maintained for a predetermined interval of time during which one or more pockets 28 will advance without receiving any articles 3 and thus remain empty. Naturally, the longer the screws are driven by the motor 24 at the higher speed of rotation, the more pockets will be left empty and the bigger the gap S between successive groups 2 will become. Similarly, the higher the speed of rotation of the feed screws 13 maintained for a given duration, the bigger the gap S will become.
  • control unit 17 pilots the motor 24 to reassume its former speed of rotation synchronous with that of the wheel 4 , the feed screws 13 decelerate back to the first predetermined speed of rotation, and the articles 3 can once again be deposited by the wheel into each successive pocket 28 generated.
  • each group 2 is formed with five articles 3 , it will be possible clearly enough to form groups 2 composed of different numbers of articles 3 simply by reprogramming the timer functions of the control unit 17 .
  • take up means 18 and compacting means 20 operating in conjunction with the feed screws 13 at the release station 11 , by which the groups 2 are taken up and the single articles 3 compacted; more exactly, such means comprise a second conveyor denoted 18 , of which the infeed end is positioned to receive the groups 2 of articles formed while advancing along the screws 13 in the relative feed direction 12 .
  • the conveyor 18 comprises a flexible element 19 shown as a chain in the example illustrated, looped around respective wheels 29 of which one is power driven by a motor 30 interlocked to the monitoring and control unit 17 , thereby ensuring that at least the top, active branch 23 of the chain 19 can be advanced along the second path P 2 and in the second direction 12 synchronously with the feed screws 13 , at a substantially constant speed.
  • the top branch 23 of the second conveyor 18 is made to advance at a linear velocity slower than the rate at which the single groups 2 of articles 3 approach the release station 11 , for reasons that will become apparent.
  • the chain carries a plurality of projections 20 performing the function of locating and restraining elements, in conventional manner, which are spaced apart at a predetermined distance and insertable thus into the gaps S between successive groups 2 .
  • the projections 20 are also capable individually of movement produced by drive means (conventional in embodiment and therefore not illustrated), relative to the chain 19 and along a third path 25 normal to the second path P 2 , in such a manner as to assume at least a retracted position substantially within the compass of the looped conveyor 18 , in which the projection 20 neither makes contact nor interacts with the groups 2 of articles 3 , and an extended position in which the projection 20 protrudes from the conveyor 18 and locates in the gap S separating two successive groups 2 about to be released by the feed screws 13 .
  • the articles 3 are indexed by the transfer device 5 to the release station 6 where they are taken up onto the wheel 4 , retained by suction in contact with the revolving peripheral surface and caused to advance continuously toward the transfer station 9 ; during this initial step the articles 3 proceed in a first succession 21 , moving along the first path P 1 at a selected tempo, spaced apart at a regular distance, and completing a rotation of 90° or thereabouts about the axis of the wheel 4 .
  • the feed screws 13 are caused by the motor 24 to turn at a first predetermined speed of rotation synchronized with that of the wheel 4 , that is to say, timed in such a way that the arrival of an article 3 at the transfer station 9 coincides with the moment when a pocket 28 is generated at the station, which will be maintained until the wheel has deposited articles into a predetermined number of consecutive pockets 28 .
  • the irregular situation of an article 3 failing to associate with one of the suction holes 8 will be indicated to the monitoring and control unit 17 , which is also wired to conventional sensing means (not illustrated) located on the feed direction T along which the articles 3 are directed toward the wheel 4 by the transfer device 5 .
  • the sensing means in question are able to provide the control unit 17 with a signal indicating the presence or absence of articles 3 on the transfer device 5 .
  • the control unit 17 will cause the feed screws 13 to stop or decelerate so as to wait for the next article 3 in succession and avoid leaving an empty pocket 28 .
  • the control unit 17 pilots an increase in the speed of rotation of the screws 13 , to be maintained for a given duration in the manner described above, so that before the next article 3 in succession can reach the transfer station 9 , at least one pocket 28 will have been generated without being filled.
  • the articles 3 making up each group are caused to advance spaced apart one from the next at a selected pitch denoted “p”.
  • the feed screws 13 have two starts, as described above, the single articles 3 will be spaced apart one from the next at a distance corresponding to half the pitch of the screw 13 .
  • the gap S is produced by spacing the groups 2 apart one from the next at a distance greater than one pitch length “p”, and equal to a whole number multiple of the pitch.
  • a projection 20 will be advanced by the drive means from the retracted position toward the extended position, locating in a relative pocket 28 without touching the flights 15 and taking up a position in the gap S between successive groups 2 just before the final article 3 of a group 2 is released fully by the screws 13 , as in FIG. 2 .
  • the first article 3 of the group 2 locates against the projection 20 and consequently is decelerated relative to the other articles 3 of the same group 2 , which continue to advance at the higher speed as explained above. As a result, the articles 3 of the group 2 are brought into contact one with the next and duly compacted.
  • the chain 19 will be driven by the motor 30 , of which the operation is interlocked to the control unit 17 , at a velocity such that the articles 3 of a given group 2 are compacted without any impact occurring.
  • the monitoring and control unit 17 must be reprogrammed and the projections 20 rearranged on the flexible element 19 as appropriate.
  • articles 3 approach the device 1 in an ordered succession, spaced apart at a predetermined and constant pitch, although it would be quite possible to adopt an infeed system whereby the articles 3 enter in random rather than ordered succession.
  • a sensor located near the vacuum wheel 4 and preceding the transfer station 9 at which the articles 3 are taken up by the pockets 28 of the first conveyor 10 , the function of the sensor being to detect the passage of an article 3 and relay a signal to the monitoring and control unit 17 , which would then pilot the pocket conveyor 10 to respond in the manner described above.
  • the articles 3 advance through the device 1 first singly, then ordered into groups, but never isolated from the device and never moving from any one point to the next in an uncontrolled manner.
  • the formation of successive groups 2 is brought about along the feed screws 13 and effected simply by regulating the speed of rotation of the selfsame screws, hence in a permanently controlled manner.
  • the advancing articles 3 are not brought into contact with one another until they have passed beyond the release station 11 , by which time the formation of the groups 2 is complete, so that the risk of any article 3 striking an obstacle or another article 3 in an uncontrolled manner is eliminated.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Multi-Process Working Machines And Systems (AREA)
  • Control Of Conveyors (AREA)
US09/233,100 1998-04-02 1999-01-19 Method and a device for the formation of flat articles into groups Expired - Fee Related US6425476B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITB098A0212 1998-04-02
ITBO98A-000212 1998-04-02
IT98BO000212A IT1299948B1 (it) 1998-04-02 1998-04-02 Metodo e dispositivo per la formazione di gruppi di articoli appiattiti.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20010001997A1 US20010001997A1 (en) 2001-05-31
US6425476B2 true US6425476B2 (en) 2002-07-30

Family

ID=11343083

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/233,100 Expired - Fee Related US6425476B2 (en) 1998-04-02 1999-01-19 Method and a device for the formation of flat articles into groups

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US6425476B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP0947453B1 (fr)
BR (1) BR9901355A (fr)
DE (1) DE69918481T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2224587T3 (fr)
IT (1) IT1299948B1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060070354A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-04-06 Luca Federici Unit for conveying products
US20090113847A1 (en) * 2007-11-05 2009-05-07 Marchesini Group S.P.A. Apparatus For Packing Articles, In Particular Stickpacks, In Relative Cartons
US8215474B1 (en) * 2008-10-21 2012-07-10 Roger D. Pugh Inline accumulation and conveyor integration system and method
US20120234647A1 (en) * 2011-03-14 2012-09-20 Clifford Theodore Papsdorf Apparatus for diverting products and methods of handling products

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ATE369927T1 (de) * 2002-06-07 2007-09-15 Battistella Giosue E Giuliano Vorrichtung zum lagern, transportieren, und verteilen von metallteilen, verfahren zum herstellen von bewehrungskörben mittels dieser vorrichtung und zugehörige herstellungsmachine
DE10228061A1 (de) * 2002-06-17 2003-12-24 Optima Filling & Packaging Vorrichtung zur Bildung von Stapeln
DE102007021146A1 (de) * 2007-05-03 2008-11-06 Focke & Co.(Gmbh & Co. Kg) Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Handhaben von flachen Gegenständen, insbesondere Windeln
JP4474618B2 (ja) * 2008-03-18 2010-06-09 オリオン機械工業株式会社 製品集積装置
CN102040091B (zh) * 2010-11-29 2012-07-25 哈尔滨商业大学 一种可倾斜滑道式物料等距分离装置
DE202012004631U1 (de) * 2011-05-20 2012-08-22 Hastamat Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von stückigen Produkten

Citations (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB203412A (en) 1922-06-10 1923-09-10 Harry Greener Improvements in small-arms having martini-actions
US1971574A (en) 1933-05-22 1934-08-28 Ontario Mfg Company Off bearing delivery
US4314785A (en) * 1979-12-26 1982-02-09 Package Machinery Company Stacking and packaging apparatus
US4399905A (en) * 1981-07-02 1983-08-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Apparatus for alternately forming and forwarding stacks of articles
US4469217A (en) * 1976-02-13 1984-09-04 Robert Bosch Gmbh Apparatus for transport of capsules and the like
US4564104A (en) * 1983-08-01 1986-01-14 Scandia Packaging Machinery Co. Article feeding and stacking mechanism
US4768642A (en) * 1987-06-16 1988-09-06 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Multiple conveyors with overlapping material handling device paths
WO1990012745A1 (fr) 1989-04-22 1990-11-01 Syspack S.A. Procede et dispositif pour transporter et empiler des objets plats, en particulier des sachets plats
US5035315A (en) 1989-01-13 1991-07-30 Tenchi Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha Method and apparatus for sorting objects
DE4002724A1 (de) 1990-01-31 1991-08-01 Manfred Haiss Verfahren zum zufuehren von produkten zu einer verpackungsmaschine sowie vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung eines solchen verfahrens
US5127209A (en) * 1990-11-15 1992-07-07 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Multi-purpose stacker with overlapping material handling devices
US5161664A (en) * 1990-03-13 1992-11-10 The Mead Corporation Infeed grouping mechanism for a packaging machine
US5176244A (en) * 1991-09-16 1993-01-05 Curt G. Joa, Inc. High speed variable count mechanical stacker
US5291985A (en) * 1991-10-23 1994-03-08 Azionaria Construzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Method and device for forming groups of flat products, in particular biscuits, for supply to a packing line
US5595280A (en) 1994-04-13 1997-01-21 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Method and device for forming groups of flat articles on edge
US5755317A (en) * 1995-01-31 1998-05-26 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for separating a stream of units of product into discrete groups
US5884749A (en) * 1996-09-09 1999-03-23 Prototype Equipment Corporation Conveyor system that receives articles at a constant rate and batch discharges
US5887701A (en) * 1996-05-08 1999-03-30 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Method and unit for forming and conveying groups of products
US6019213A (en) * 1995-06-19 2000-02-01 Gerhard Schubert Gmbh Grouping and buffer apparatus
US6149378A (en) * 1996-11-11 2000-11-21 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Method and unit for forming group of products
US6260689B1 (en) * 1998-06-25 2001-07-17 Yamato Scale Company, Limited Conveyor apparatus and boxing system using conveyor apparatus

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH672293A5 (fr) 1987-03-23 1989-11-15 Sig Schweiz Industrieges

Patent Citations (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB203412A (en) 1922-06-10 1923-09-10 Harry Greener Improvements in small-arms having martini-actions
US1971574A (en) 1933-05-22 1934-08-28 Ontario Mfg Company Off bearing delivery
US4469217A (en) * 1976-02-13 1984-09-04 Robert Bosch Gmbh Apparatus for transport of capsules and the like
US4314785A (en) * 1979-12-26 1982-02-09 Package Machinery Company Stacking and packaging apparatus
US4399905A (en) * 1981-07-02 1983-08-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Apparatus for alternately forming and forwarding stacks of articles
US4564104A (en) * 1983-08-01 1986-01-14 Scandia Packaging Machinery Co. Article feeding and stacking mechanism
US4768642A (en) * 1987-06-16 1988-09-06 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Multiple conveyors with overlapping material handling device paths
US5035315A (en) 1989-01-13 1991-07-30 Tenchi Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha Method and apparatus for sorting objects
WO1990012745A1 (fr) 1989-04-22 1990-11-01 Syspack S.A. Procede et dispositif pour transporter et empiler des objets plats, en particulier des sachets plats
DE4002724A1 (de) 1990-01-31 1991-08-01 Manfred Haiss Verfahren zum zufuehren von produkten zu einer verpackungsmaschine sowie vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung eines solchen verfahrens
US5161664A (en) * 1990-03-13 1992-11-10 The Mead Corporation Infeed grouping mechanism for a packaging machine
US5127209A (en) * 1990-11-15 1992-07-07 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Multi-purpose stacker with overlapping material handling devices
US5176244A (en) * 1991-09-16 1993-01-05 Curt G. Joa, Inc. High speed variable count mechanical stacker
US5291985A (en) * 1991-10-23 1994-03-08 Azionaria Construzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Method and device for forming groups of flat products, in particular biscuits, for supply to a packing line
US5595280A (en) 1994-04-13 1997-01-21 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Method and device for forming groups of flat articles on edge
US5755317A (en) * 1995-01-31 1998-05-26 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for separating a stream of units of product into discrete groups
US6019213A (en) * 1995-06-19 2000-02-01 Gerhard Schubert Gmbh Grouping and buffer apparatus
US5887701A (en) * 1996-05-08 1999-03-30 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.P.A. Method and unit for forming and conveying groups of products
US5884749A (en) * 1996-09-09 1999-03-23 Prototype Equipment Corporation Conveyor system that receives articles at a constant rate and batch discharges
US6149378A (en) * 1996-11-11 2000-11-21 G.D Societa' Per Azioni Method and unit for forming group of products
US6260689B1 (en) * 1998-06-25 2001-07-17 Yamato Scale Company, Limited Conveyor apparatus and boxing system using conveyor apparatus

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060070354A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-04-06 Luca Federici Unit for conveying products
US7644815B2 (en) * 2004-08-03 2010-01-12 G.D. S.P.A. Unit for conveying packs of tobacco products
CN1736828B (zh) * 2004-08-03 2010-04-21 吉地股份公司 用于输送产品的装置
US20090113847A1 (en) * 2007-11-05 2009-05-07 Marchesini Group S.P.A. Apparatus For Packing Articles, In Particular Stickpacks, In Relative Cartons
US7810300B2 (en) * 2007-11-05 2010-10-12 Marchesini Group S.P.A. Apparatus for packing articles, in particular stickpacks, in relative cartons
US8215474B1 (en) * 2008-10-21 2012-07-10 Roger D. Pugh Inline accumulation and conveyor integration system and method
US20120234647A1 (en) * 2011-03-14 2012-09-20 Clifford Theodore Papsdorf Apparatus for diverting products and methods of handling products
US8448776B2 (en) * 2011-03-14 2013-05-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Apparatus for diverting products and methods of handling products

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR9901355A (pt) 2000-06-13
EP0947453A1 (fr) 1999-10-06
EP0947453B1 (fr) 2004-07-07
IT1299948B1 (it) 2000-04-04
ITBO980212A0 (it) 1998-04-02
DE69918481T2 (de) 2005-08-18
US20010001997A1 (en) 2001-05-31
ES2224587T3 (es) 2005-03-01
DE69918481D1 (de) 2004-08-12
ITBO980212A1 (it) 1999-10-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9409724B2 (en) Device and method for conveying lumpy products
CN101128374B (zh) 用于在高速传送带上成批组地集组产品的集组装置
US6112880A (en) Device for forming lots of products and separating said lots from each other and, conversely, packing them
US4552261A (en) Article grouper for case packer
US6425476B2 (en) Method and a device for the formation of flat articles into groups
US9840345B2 (en) Method and device for packing strip-type objects, especially strips of chewing gum
US4637509A (en) Article grouper for case packer
US3938650A (en) Indexing article separating and feeding conveyor
US6648125B1 (en) Apparatus for evenly spacing packages on an assembly machine
US5695041A (en) Method to separate articles and an apparatus to supply separated articles
US4029198A (en) Method and apparatus for forming groups of bricks
JPH08104423A (ja) 不規則な製品の流れを予定の調節可能な前進速度で一つの軌道にまとめる装置及び方法
EP1468913A1 (fr) Machine pour sceller des récipients par l'application d'une feuille de couverture
US10478988B2 (en) Method of conveying tissue logs in a saw conveyor with independent lane control cutting and variable conveyor flight length
US5884749A (en) Conveyor system that receives articles at a constant rate and batch discharges
MX2009001845A (es) Metodo para regular un flujo de productos y disposicion para implementacion de dicho metodo.
EP3074331B1 (fr) Unité pour le transport et l'alignement trié de produits
US5718102A (en) Method and device for forming and transferring groups of cigarettes on a packing machine with multiple wrapping lines
US4586598A (en) Method and apparatus for delivering articles from a high-speed production machine
JP2021526492A (ja) タンポンアプリケータを搬送する搬送装置および方法
CN106660711B (zh) 用于输送块式产品的方法和装置
EP3634893B1 (fr) Dispositif de formation pour former une couche de récipients disposés en quinconce
US5875880A (en) Article grouper and escapement for continuous motion packer
EP1447357B1 (fr) Dispositif d'arrangement d'articles rigides
GB2224476A (en) A device for transferring piles of products for packaging, and equipment including the device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AZIONARIA COSTRUZIONI MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE A.C.M.A

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GHIOTTI, ROBERTO;GAMBERINI, ANTONIO;REEL/FRAME:009726/0998

Effective date: 19981215

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20100730